What would you pay?

[rancher hicks]

So, I went on craigs to look around and as always check to see if chicks are forsale or wanted and all that. Well I answered one for Aruacanas and Dels. Cuz Im curious to see about these Dels and I'm looking to add a couple of aruacanas for the colored eggs. Just cuz customers think they're neat.

Well the person on the other side says she's "ordering " chicks.
First let me say that I do not want hatchery Dels. And if I wanted pure birds I'd pay to get a trio of good birds. Yes 150 dollars if need be and then hatch my own. Well not me hatch them, either a broody or an inuc.

So I e-mail back and ask what she wants for Araucana chicks. She wants 12 dollars.

<the top row of my keyboard doesn't work right> 12? a chick? Well I don't think so. I just was in contact w/ a woman who had grown birds for 15. I could order chicks and get them from the hatchery of my choice.


So what do you charge for one chick? Of any breed. Not to mention, the hatcheries all have them and even many of the "rare" breeds. Though I can't say who has the best "rare" breed stock. Anybody want to weigh in on that one. I don't know why anyone would buy a rare breed from the hathchery.


I just talked w/ a friend and told him I'd be offended if he bought Dels from a hatchery. My last sale I only charged 10 for 4 chicks. Though one was a bantam friz cross. <I should have kept that one>
And while I'm at it I have been unable to find a pic of Columbian eggs to compare to my hatchery Del eggs.

If your a breeder of good stock or anything for that matter please weigh in.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, first of all, I'd have to have it proven that they are actually Araucana chicks. Most hatcheries will sell EEs and call them Araucanas, which are quite rare and hard to find at any hatchery. I wouldn't pay $12/ chick unless they came from champion Araucana stock, rather like Jody has (hinkjc). Even then, it'd be hard to pay that since you have no idea if they'll grow up to be as great as their parents. (sorry, Jody, I don't know what you charge for yours)

I charge $10 for a point of lay pullet, maybe $5 for an older hen. I charge $5/chick for my Delawares and BBS Orpington chicks and have no trouble getting it. I charge $2-3 for BRs or crossbred chicks. I'd charge more for the pure BRs if mine were a better quality than they are. Hope this helps.

 

[chickenma]

I have payed between $3 and $8 dollar a chick. It depends on the breed and if I want it.
But I would not pay $12 dollar for a chick because you never know if it will survive until laying age.
All my chickens free range even the little ones and I have a hawk that he is a pain in the but.

 

[TimG]

$12 sounds more like the price for a point of lay pullet.

I might expect to pay half that (more or less) for chicks from a successful breeding program depending upon the rarity of the breed*. Perhaps half that again for run of the mill chicks of a certain breed.

* Maybe more for a really rare breed or a champion line -- we've all seen hatching eggs go for over $100/dozen right here at BYC Forums...crazy! -- I mean only to be addressing the "everyday" types.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

How young a chick are you talking about? Day old; week old; month old? If at least a couple of weeks old, maybe even a week, and if the bird has two tufts and is rumpless it should be worth at least $12. If you are talking about straight run as far as tufts and rumps go, then less than that. I would not even consider purchasing an araucana from a hatchery; you will not get one; you will get an EE. EEs are fine if that is what you want, but they are not araucanas.

 

[rancher hicks]

No,no, no for POL, she wants 20. I did post her back that I thouhgt they were to expensive. I haven't checked my e-mail to see her reply. Here is her reply. You be the judge.


"I completely understand. It will cost much less when I hatch my own chicks out. Of course that will be straight run and I won't have the expense in them I will have into these and the hens will care for them. These are coming 100% natural no antibiotics. Most chickens especially rare come from hatcheries at one point even the ones that are several generations out. Although, the chickens I have currently were purchased from local farms they originated from a hatchery a few eggs back so I see more of an expense with them (from a hatchery) but no issues. As egg layers these will be sold for $20 each so I think $12 is a fair price but I do understand your perspective also. Thank you for your interest. Robin "

 

[TimG]

Some people get confused and think that they can set price based upon their cost. The reality is that they can set price based upon what the market will bear. You should say "thanks, but no thanks" and move on to another source. This seller will either find a market at the price she is asking (more power to her) or come to realize that there is no market for her product at the price she is asking. Neither helps you at the moment, but oh well.

Tim